Elsholtzia ciliata
Encyclopedia
Elsholtzia ciliata, commonly known as Vietnamese Balm is a weed native to Asia, sometimes grown as an ornamental plant.
The plant is an erect herb that grows to about 60 cm in height. The leaves are long, stalked, and serrated, and reach 2 to 8.5 cm in length and .8 to 2.5 cm in width. In shape they are ovate to lanceolate, with a gland-dotted underside. Flowers of a purple color bloom in flat spikes in September and October. Seeds propagate within them.
The plant is native to Asia; however, the exact extent of its original range is unclear. Today it is found throughout Nepal at elevations of 1500 to 3400 m. It is found elsewhere, including through much of India, eastern Asia, and Europe. In modern times it has become popular as an ornamental plant, though first being reported in the Americas as a weed in 1889. It prefers moist soil, and grows mostly on exposed rocky slopes and other open, gravelly areas.
Elsholtzia ciliata has many cultural uses. The seeds are sometimes powdered and used for flavoring food. Additionally it is common in traditional medicine
, as it is carminative
and astringent
.
It is used in Vietnamese cuisine, where it is called rau kinh giới.
Elsholtzia ciliata inhibits mast cell
-mediated allergic inflammatory reactions.
The plant is an erect herb that grows to about 60 cm in height. The leaves are long, stalked, and serrated, and reach 2 to 8.5 cm in length and .8 to 2.5 cm in width. In shape they are ovate to lanceolate, with a gland-dotted underside. Flowers of a purple color bloom in flat spikes in September and October. Seeds propagate within them.
The plant is native to Asia; however, the exact extent of its original range is unclear. Today it is found throughout Nepal at elevations of 1500 to 3400 m. It is found elsewhere, including through much of India, eastern Asia, and Europe. In modern times it has become popular as an ornamental plant, though first being reported in the Americas as a weed in 1889. It prefers moist soil, and grows mostly on exposed rocky slopes and other open, gravelly areas.
Elsholtzia ciliata has many cultural uses. The seeds are sometimes powdered and used for flavoring food. Additionally it is common in traditional medicine
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine comprises unscientific knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine...
, as it is carminative
Carminative
A carminative, also known as carminativum , is a herb or preparation that either prevents formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitates the expulsion of said gas, thereby combating flatulence...
and astringent
Astringent
An astringent substance is a chemical compound that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin adstringere, meaning "to bind fast"...
.
It is used in Vietnamese cuisine, where it is called rau kinh giới.
Elsholtzia ciliata inhibits mast cell
Mast cell
A mast cell is a resident cell of several types of tissues and contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin...
-mediated allergic inflammatory reactions.